The Leader has been named the best large weekly newspaper in Arkansas. It has offices in Jacksonville and Cabot and covers north Pulaski County, Lonoke County and White County. The Leader is a family owned and operated newspaper that was founded in 1986.

Friday, July 22, 2011

SPORTS>>Youths in Junior Olympics

By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor

When the AAU National Junior Olympic Games Track and Field competition commences on Aug. 1, Jacksonville will be well represented.

The Christian Competition Track Club, headed up by Jacksonville’s Walter Harris, has qualified six athletes for the national event in New Orleans.

Kiarra and Diajah Harris, Taylor Person, Brandi Allen, Raeghan Weddle and Asia Jiles will all compete in different events, as well as on relay teams, thanks to performances in other meets this summer that were good enough to qualify for the Junior Olympic meet.

“These girls have worked hard out here in this heat and really improved this summer,” Walter Harris said.

Kiarra Harris, 12, is ranked in the Top 10 for her age group in the javelin and shot put. Person is also Olympic qualified for the same events as a 14-year old.

Diajah Harris, 11, has qualified in the 4x100 and 4x400 relay, as well as the long jump, which is her specialty.

She missed competitions and several weeks of practice, but came back in the final qualifying meet to jump 13 feet, nine inches to make it to New Orleans in the event.

Giles, is a sprinter, and despite the team qualifying in both sprint relays, she was the only one to qualify in the 100-meter dash. She will also run for the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

Weddle will take her turn with the baton in the 4x100 while Allen, 12, will take a lap for the 4x400 team.

The Christian Competition Club athletes are coached by Harris, Jeaniae Lawton, Chet Allen and Janette Dixon.